OUR MISSION
Ann Arbor Community Commons Mission
We aim to facilitate the development and operation of the Center of the City Commons public land in accord with recommendations of the Center of the City Task Force, coordinated with the Ann Arbor City Council.
The Vision of the Ann Arbor Community Commons
Central Park and Civic Center Commons
Establish
The Ann Arbor Center of the City Commons is centered at this website and on the public land designated as a Central Park and Civic Center in the November 2018 election and subsequent Center of the City Commons Task Force recommendations.
Engage
The purposes are to develop the Center of the City land as a treasure for all of Ann Arbor and as an initiating point for developing projects that direct Ann Arbor into a commons-driven “Co-City” associated with and benefiting from global Commoning efforts.
Expand
The Ann Arbor Community Commons is an organization in formation. The Commons organization will include a 501c3 non-profit cooperative organization, an initiating committee of community volunteers committed to the development of the Commons, and an Assembly process to allow all Ann Arbor people to participate in the development of the Commons and ultimately a Council of the Commons as an embodiment of self management.
The Main Goals of Our Commons
The Commons organization form encourages collaborative, co-creative and win/win relationships between all city residents. These relationships foster mutual caring, support and understanding.
Over time they may TRANSFORM OR EVEN DISSOLVE the primarily transactional and competitive relationships that currently harm our collective sense of community wellbeing.
Co-Create
Bring people together to co-create a beautiful park and civic center.
Help
Help those that find it difficult to thrive in our current economic and sociopolitical system with alternative options to improve their circumstances.
Experiment
Experiment with new forms of governance and civic initiatives based on the experience of, and in collaboration with, the many cities throughout the world developing commons-driven projects.
Stimulate
Stimulate the emergence of new forms of environmentally sustainable, equitable and generative economic development pathways that can make the city more resilient and independent from problems at the state, national and international level.
Implement
Implement new currency and financial models (including using Holochain and a public bank for example), new agriculture models such as Permaculture, time banking, new kinds of environmentally friendly but cost-effective construction and co-housing, off grid alternative energy and water management, childcare and eldercare community sharing, etc.
Take Action
Come together, and let's begin!
Our Long Term Goals
Ann Arbor is ready to develop the Center of the City Library Lot land as a treasure for all of Ann Arbor, and as an initiating point for developing a resilient and supportive commons-driven society to improve the lives of our residents.
01.
Create a more welcoming, supportive, inclusive, caring and sustainable environment in Ann Arbor for all its people.
02.
Provide Ann Arbor residents with more options to achieve Well-being beyond Private Sector, Traditional Non-profit, and Government options..
03.
Provide offerings and supports not currently available from the private sector or government to Ann Arbor residents.
04.
Experiment with new types of highly responsive and inclusive Governance in Ann Arbor.
05.
Increasingly transform relationships in Ann Arbor from instrumental to caring and from competitive win/lose to collaborative win/win.
06.
Help transform the City of Ann Arbor from a Common’s facilitator to a full Commoning/Commons-driven City.
07.
Grow a Third Socio-Economic Force - Economy of The Commons - in the Ann Arbor environment that can balance the tendency of the Government and Market to favor the successful and privileged and which can actively promote and strengthen the interests of ordinary and/or less advantaged people.
08.
Strengthen the ability and resiliency of Ann Arbor to deal with economic, environmental, and political crises by using its talent bank to enable the City to become more self-reliant and independent from existing state, federal, global and market power structures and systems.
Become a Member
Register with us and become a part of the discussions shaping your Ann Arbor Community Commons!